Post-hole digger



(no Model.) 1

W. DAUGHERTY & J. S. HILL.

POST HOLE BIGGER. No. 515,731. Patented Feb. 2'7, 1894.,

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM DAUGHERTY AND JOSEPH S. HILL, OF RUSSELLVILLE, ILLINOIS.

POST-HOLE BIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,731, dated February 2'7, 1894.

Application filed June 2, l 892 To all whom iv may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM: DAUGHERTY and JOSEPH S. HILL, residing at Rnssellville, in the county of Lawrence and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Post- Hole Digger, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the application of geared shafting in the digging of post holes; its objects are to obtain ease, rapidity and convenience, which we attain by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the entire machine. Fig 2 is a top view of the machine showing the frame or trucks upon which the mechanism for digging rests. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, side view of a part of the machine on line 1-:2 Fig. 1.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1. A is avertica-l frame of wood provided with an iron face on which moves the gear frame B.

To the shaft 0 is firmly fixed a bevel cog awhich works a similar one at the top of the shaft D. at the lower end of which is attached firmlyacap E provided with a set screw to hold in position the auger shaft F.

On each side of the gear cog -aon the shaft 0 are two movable cogs h. b. which are used in lifting the auger F from the ground. They are represented in Fig. 1. as ready placed to raise the mechanism attached to the movable frame B. hen it is desired to use the auger the cogs b. h. are moved toward the center of the shaft 0. I

The cogtracks c. c. placed on the inside of the frame A are used for lifting the auger from the ground and correspond in length with the depth of hole that can be dug.

(Z. d. throughout the several views is the cleaner, a metal blade firmly fixed to the lower end of a shaft by which it is thrown into position for use or out as may he required.

Fig. 2. G. G. the outside pieces of the frame or trucks, extend back for handles to the truck. H. H. are the inside pieces of truck frame upon which the frame A sets and is securely fastened by a rod -a:-- shown in Fig. 3, (which passes through from G. to G.,) by the braces e--erunning from well up erial No. 35.33?)- (Nc model.)

the sides of the frame A forward and down to the front end of the pieces H. H, and by angle braces f. f. in Fig. 2. At the forward end of H. H. is attached a wheel to move the machine from place to place. g. g. are legs attached by a bolt in such a way that, when moving the machine from place to place, they will trail, slide over grass or vines; h. h. are movable up or down to level the machine on uneven ground and are secured by a set screw. The frame pieces G. G. H. H. and I. I. are of suitable strength to support the machine under all conditions. The shaft F is provided with a bit, consisting of two semicircular wings of steel, each of which has one radius sharpened into a cutting edge, which is slightly depressed, the other radius of the same wing being slightly raised, a cutting edge being on each side of the shaft F. The two wings are firmly united by a clamp of steel or iron riveted to their lower side-said clamp has a hole in it in which are out threads: the shaft F is screwed into this hole and firmly riveted there the rivet passing through the clamp and shaft, where there is to be used, the spiral cutter, but for just plain bits the shaft is simply screwed in to the clamp. To the outer and forward edge of one wing of the bit is firmly fixed a spiral cutter is. the front edge of which is sharpened, and adj usted to the same angle that the circumference of the bit has, and extending, spirally in and down to the point of the shaft F to which it is firmly secured and is itself sharpened and pointed with the same decreasing spiral. This bit and its cutter is from nature of it and its intended use that of boring in gravel-necessarily firmly secured to the shaft F. Another shaft exactly similar to F is provided with bits that have not the spiral cutter, and which may be put on or off, by means of the screw thread on the shaftF and through the clamp in the bit. In the interchangeable bits the rivet through the clamp and shaft F is omitted. Said adjustable bits may be of any diameter desired-four, six,

eight, ten or twelve inch either of which will work on the shaft F not provided with the spiral cutter 70. but in either shaft F the lower point is twisted spirally and sharpened to facilitate its e-ntre into the ground.

' We are aware that machines have been invented for boring holes in the ground, but we are not aware thatany instrument has been invented prior to this that will successfully work in gravel.

The spiral steel cutter attached to the anger is necessary in gravel.

We therefore claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-' 1. The combination of a portablewheeled frameand the earth boring mechanism and its gearing carried thereby, of the adjustable legs g,h, as and for the purposes set forth. 2; The combination with the portable Wheeled frame-work, the earth auger and its operating mechanism carried thereby, of the cleaner blade, cl, audits vertical shaft as set forth.

3. The earth boring implement, consisting of the shaft F provided with the cutting and lifting bits, the single spiral cutter in, running from one leaf of the bit, down to, and below the point of the shaft F, as and for the purposes setforth.

4. The combination of the shaft F provided with a boring bit or bits, of'the spiral cutter 70 extended from the outer cutting edge of one wing of the bit, to, and below the point of shaft F. said cutter being firmly fixed at its upper extremity to the wing of bit and at its lower end to the point of the said shaft,

and itself sharpened and pointed at'its lower 30 end.

I WILLIAM DAUGHERTY.

JOSEPH S. HILL. \Vitnesses:

L. BARNES,

CHAS. H. MARTIN. 

